Washing machine



March 6, 1956 R. J. ANDERSON WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 4, 1951 W. m m m m. N m P V m u 4 S m March 6, 1956 R. J. ANDERSONWASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1951 INVENTOR.

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March 6, 1956 Filed Sept. 4, 1951 R. J. ANDERSON WASHING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

P036787 J flA/DEPSON H/S 7/ TTOP/VE V5 March 6, 1956 R. J. ANDERSONWASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1951 w m w m 2,737,040Patented Mar. 6, 1956 WASHING MACHINE Robert J. Anderson, Sidney, OhioApplication September 4, 1951, Serial No. 244,934

24 Claims. (Cl. 68--23) This invention relates to a washing machine andmore particularly to a washing machine automatically operating through aseries of cycles.

Automatic washing machines have been manufactured and sold ratherextensively over a period of several years. However, these washingmachines have several weaknesses. One notable weakness is a tendency ofrinsing the clothes in water that has a lower temperature than the waterused in washing the clothes. It is definitely known that hot waterexpands the fibers in clothes, cold water contracts the same, therebythe dirt and detergent cling to the meshes of the fibers, causing graycolored clothes when rinsing in cold water. This condition is evidencedby the fact that present day automatic washing machines are usingseveral spray rinses in an attempt to clear the clothes of dirt anddetergents. Furthermore, many of the automatic washing machines now onthe market are provided with a perforated liner arranged in spacedrelation from the main body of the tub, so as to provide a cavitybetween the wall of the tub and the liner for the circulation of thewater. This has been found necessary with some constructions in order toobtain adequate water circulation, at the expense of sanitation, in thatthe cavity between the liner and the main body of the tub provides aninaccessible breeding place for germs, bacteria and fungi. Furthermore,some of the washing machines provided with a revolving tub aresusceptible to very marked vibrations caused by unbalanced conditions ofthe weight of the clothes in the tub. Furthermore, vertically mountedtubs which oscillate inner washing devices require counterbalancingweight means to bring the tub while spinning out the water into dynamicbalance.

An object of this invention is to provide a ramp and a tub moving inunison, the ramp being so designed as to distribute the clothes in thetub to cause the clothes to move towards the periphery of the tub,thereby subjecting the clothes to the greatest agitation, the ramp beingso shaped as to raise the clothes upwardly and outwardly when the rampand tub are oscillated in one direction and to forcefully shake orvibrate the clothes when the ramp and tub move in the oppositedirection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tub and a ramp that isintegral, the tub gradually increasing in diameter from bottom to top,so that as the tub and ramp are spun in one direction, the centrifugalforce will cause the water to flow out over the top edge of the tub intoa drainage compartment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tub and a ramp shakerso designed that the clothes and Water will be thoroughly shaken orvibrated without the aid of extraneous pumps or water circulating means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a contrel mechanism sodesigned that the washing machine will carry out the several cyclesrequired to wash the clothes, which cycles may include heating thewater, adding the hot water to .the tub, oscillating the tub and thenspinning the tub to discharge the water. While these operations aretaking place, a new supply of water is being heated in readiness for asucceeding operation, the temperature of the water being automaticallyraised to a predetermined temperature, at which time the heatingmechanism is cut off. This water that has been heated during the firstcycle of the washing operation is added to the tub after the water forthe first washing operation has been drained from the tub, the clothesbeing again agitated, so as to remove the dirt and the detergent fromthe clothes. When this operation has been completed, the tub isautomatically spun for a period sufilcient to extract most of the waterfrom the clothes, after which the washing operation is completed and thewashing machine stops. During the second half of the washing cycle a newbatch of water is heated, in readiness for a succeeding Wash.

Another object of this invention is to so suspend the tub thatunbalanced conditions are so distributed with respect to a given mass asto minimize the vibrations caused by an unbalanced mass. This has beenaccomplished by mounting the tub upon a shaft, the tub being supportedupon the upper end of the shaft a considerable distance above the centerof gravity thereof. The shaft is provided with a mass gyrating with iton the lower end thereof, to counteract the effect of unbalanced masses.

Another object is to provide a shaft for supporting the tub used inspinning the clothes that is hung in a floating support, this floatingsupport including a driving motor, a gear case and the other drivingequipment, so that the flexible support means counteracts the unbalancedcondition that may result by unequal distribution of the mass in thetub.

Another object is to permit a smooth elliptical oscillation. This isaccomplished by the use of a multiple formed flat leaf metallic springfixedly fastened to the gear housing column, the outer end of the springbeing cup-shaped to retain a suitable friction molded material,permitting a smooth elliptical oscillation.

Another object of this invention is to dampen out unbalanced vibrations.This has been accomplished by applying a resilient pressure on the underside of a trustum-conical surface of a water drain container diaphragm.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become moreapparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional viewof the preferred embodiment of my washing machine, wherein a section ofthe tub is taken substantially on the line 1-1 in Figure 7.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View, taken substantially one the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross sectional view of a portionof the tub.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the tub, taken substantially onthe section line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the control mechanism.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the effect of the unbalancedforces.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the operation of the oscillatingmechanism.

Figure 11 is an illustration of the cam for actuating the switchmechanism of the control mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the uppermargin of the tub.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken substantially onthe line 13-13 of Figure 12.

In the drawings, the reference character indicates the lower portion ofa casing or cabinet mounted upon a plurality of supports 22. An upperrectangular member 24 is attached to the casing 20 along the seam 26. Amarginal cover portion 28, provided with an annular opening, is attachedto the top of member 24. A lid 36 is used in closing the opening in thecover portion 2 The upper portion of the casing 20 supports a diaphragmmember 32 provided with an upwardly directed and centrally disposedconical portion 34, which will be described more fully later. Thediaphragm member 32 supports a Water heater tank 40 provided withelectric heater coils 42 and an intake water pipe 44. A thermocouple 46is attached to the Water pipe 44, shown in Figure 2, and is used formeasuring the temperature of the water in the tank 49. The lower end ofthe water pipe is provided with a water dispenser consisting of atightly coiled spring having a length equal to the entire length of theheater 42. This coil spring is attached to the end of the pipe 44. Theouter end of the spring is closed by a cap 43. The convolutions of thespring are normally in contact with each other, so that the spring ispractically water-tight. When the water is turned on, pressure iscreated in the spring, tending to lengthen the spring, therebyseparating the convolutions a slight distance, so as to permit the waterto ooze out between the convolutions, thereby preventing gushing of thewater.

When water is to be admitted to the tank 40, a suitableelectromagneticaliy controlled valve 52 is opened, so as to supply waterfrom mains. The tank 40 is provided with a spout overhanging the marginof a tub 62, provided with a substantially ogee-shaped marginal flange64, having a plurality of apertures or diagnoal louver slots 66, bestseen in Figures 12 and 13, the closed side of the louver to be on theramp spin rotation position. The function of the louvers is to eliminateair friction drag, aiding jet water extraction and to permit rapid entryof water into the tub in the oscillation cycle, which starts near theend of the fill cycle.

In the event the washing machine is to remain idle for a period of time,the water in the tank 4t) may be drained by opening the drain cock 67 inthe bottom of the tank. The bottom of the tub 62 is provided with a ramp7t? integral with the base and projecting upwardly. This ramp has someof the characteristics in common with the ramp disclosed in my PatentNo. 2,230,477, patented February 4, 1941 for Washing Machine; but in thepatented device the ramp is oscillated independently of the tub.

As may best be seen by referring to Figures 6 and 7, the ramp 70consists of a gradually inclined slope 72 and an oppositely disposedslope portion 74. The portion 74 may be practically vertically disposed.The center portion 76 is frustum-conical, so as to provide a cavity forthe support for the tub. In Figure 7, the top plan view of the tub showsa plurality of contour lines 1 to 13 inclusive that are taken on theelevations 1 to 13 shown in Figure 6. This ramp has been so designedthat when the tub rotates in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figure7, the clothes and the water are gradually raised upwardly upon theinclined slope 72. When the tub is rotated or oscillated in acounterclockwise direction, as shown in Figure 7, the steep portion '74of the ramp causes a violent agitation of the clothes.

The tub is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed tapered ribs80 positioned in spaced relation from the extremities 82 of the ramp.These ribs 8% aid in agitating the water and the clothes as the tub isoscillated.

As may best be seen by referring to Figure 1, the tub is supported upona shaft 1% having mounted near the top thereof a splined coupling 1&2fixedly secured by bolts to a conical supporting member 104 projectingupwardly into the frustum-conical portion of the ramp. Member 104 isfixedly secured to the under side of the tub by the outwardly projectinghorizontally disposed diaphragm portion 105 by Welding or in anysuitable manner. The shaft 100 abuts a curved plate 106, secured to theunder side of the apex of the frustum-conical portion, so that theweight of the tub is transmitted directly to the shaft 100. The coupling102 is splined to the shaft. End thrust bearing 110, as described, is anend face water seal and the rubber 112 is in compression only as a meansto hold the end face seal in position and prevent leakage around theshaft. The tub is supported on the end of the shaft by reinforcingmember 106. The frustum-conical water shield 112 is mounted upon anupwardly directed annular flange 114 integral with the conical portion34.

An annular member 116 is provided with a flange 118 fixedly attached toconical portion 34. Member 116 has mounted thereon a plurality ofdownwardly and outwardly extending rods 120. These flexible rods 120provide a support for the gear casing and the driving mechanism for theshaft 1&10. The gear casing and the driving mechanism, which will bedescribed more fully later, may be referred to as a floating support, inthat the cover member 122 for a gear housing or casing 132 isresiliently attached to the flexible rods 120 by means of rubberbushings 121, each seated against a collar 126a mounted near the lowerend of the rods 120. The lower portion of the annular member 116supports a limiting collar member 124 made of nylon or any othersuitable material. This collar member 124 functions as a snubber for theshaft 1% in the event the unbalanced condition of the tub, the contentsthereof and the parts carried thereby should cause the shaft to deflectbeyond certain limits. in that event, the collar 124 will limit themovement of the shaft, so as to prevent the tub from swinging intoengagement with the walls of the cabinet.

The shaft 100 is journalled in the ball bearing 131) fixedly mounted ina tubular portion of the gear housing 132 secured to the plate member122. The shaft is also journalled in a bearing 134 mounted in the bottomof the gear casing 132, as clearly shown in Figure l.

A collar 136, which may he made of rubber or any other suitablematerial, is resiliently and frictionally held upon the shaft 100 andpositioned above the bearing 139. If water should be spilled so as toflow down along the shaft 100, collar member 136, really an umbrella,would cause the water to be drained from the shaft to prevent the waterfrom passing into the bearing 13!} and into the gear housing 132 whichforms a casing for the driving mechanism, which will be described morefully later.

For washing clothes, the tube is oscillated. This has been accomplishedby an oscillating mechanism which will now be described. An electricmotor 14% is provided with a pulley 142 keyed to the armature shaft anddrives a V-belt 144 used in driving a V-bclt 146 keyed to a shaft 148.The V-belt 144 also passes over the pulley 150, as best seen in Figure5. This pulley 159 is keyed to a shaft 152 used in actuating a pump 154,the frame of which is pivotally supported by a bolt 156. The belt 144 istightened and held in taut position by a bolt 15S passing through a slot161) in the frame member for the pump 154. The pump is driven at alltimes when the motor 149 is energized. The slot 161) is arcuate andconcentric with the bolt 156.

The shaft 148 terminates in a pinion 17:) meshing with a gear 172, seenin Figure 1, rotatably mounted upon a shaft 174 secured to the frame132. The gear 172 is provided wi h an eccentrically mounted annularflange 176, having mounted thereon a sleeve 178 engaging the sides of achannel 180 in rocker arm member 182 pivotally mounted upon a pintle 184and terminating in gear teeth 186 meshing with a pinion 188 mounted onthe shaft 10%. This piniodlSS terminates in a collar or flange 190provided with a pair of arcuate slots adapted to straddle a pin 192extending through the shaft 100. The pin 192 cooperates with the flange190 to form a clutch for drivingly connecting the pinion 188 to theshaft 100. The pinion 188 is biased upwardly by a spring 194 positionedbetween the pinion 188 and the bearing 134. It can readily be seen thatwhen the motor drives the belt 144, the pulley 146 is rotated and withit the shaft 148 and the pinion 17f) meshing with the gear 172 whichrocks the rocker arm 182 provided with the gear teeth 186 meshing withthe pinion 188 that drives the shaft 100 through the members 199 and 192when in the position shown in Figure 1. This oscillates the tub 62together with the ramp 70 and agitates the contents of the tub.

The members 194) and 192 may be disengaged by a flanged collar 2% thatengages the margin of the pinion 188. The pin 192 has a length slightlyless than the inside diameter of the annular flanger of the collar 200.The members 190 and 192 are separated by means of an electromagnet 204provided with an armature 206 connected to a link 268 fixedly attachedto an arcuate cam 210 mounted upon a suitable pivot, so that the cam 210actuates the collar 206 downwardly so as to actuate the pinion 18Sdownwardly against the force of the compression spring 194 to cause theclutch member 190 to move out of engagement with the clutch member orpin 192. The electromagnet 264 is energized at the proper intervals oftime by a control mechanism used in controlling the cycles of operationof the washing machine. This electromagnet is energizes at thecompletion of one washing operation.

In order to drain the water from the tub 62, it is merely necessary tospin the tub at a sufficiently high speed to cause the centrifugal forceacting upon the water to force the water upwardly over the edge of thetub, throwing the water outwardly against the upper rectangular member24 of the cabinet, permitting the water to accumulate in the annularchannel of the diaphragm member 32, the water draining through a sumpand through a suitable drain pipe 220 connected to a pump 154 driven bythe belt 144. The mechanism for spinning the tub will now be described.

The armature shaft of the electric motor 140 also has keyed thereto apulley 240 driving a V-belt 242 passing over a pulley 244 keyed to thelower end of the shaft 190. A belt tightener and idler 246 mounted upona link 248 and pivoted about the pivot 250 is actuated by an armature252 through a spring 254 by an electromagnet 256 into engagement withthe belt 242 whenever the electromagnet 256 is energized. Upon the belt242 being tightened, the motor drives the shaft 160 at a constant speedin one direction and with it the tub 62, so as to expel the water fromthe tub by means of centrifugal force, as described above. Theelectromagnet 256 is only energized when the electromagnet 264 isenergized, so as to declutch members 190 and 192, which permits rotationof the shaft 100 and the tub 62.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, unbalanced conditions inrotating bodies set up parasitic vibrations. Furthermore, it is wellknown that unbalanced conditions in one plane are reflected in otherplanes of the rotating body. Also, when the rotating body reaches thecritical speed, the body will rotate about its own center of gravity.Somewhere between the extremity of the rotating body there may be aneutral axis where there is no vibration.

In the present device, if there is an unbalanced condition in the tub,caused by the mass of clothes or for some other reason, the mounting forthe shaft 104), including the gear casing 132 and the parts carriedthereby, will be permitted to vibrate due to the resiliency of the rods120. The gear casing 132 functions as a stabilizing force. This has beenillustrated schematically in Figure 9. This would take place even thoughthe parts carried by the shaft below the neutral axis indicatedschematically at 265 may be in perfect balance. In other words,

even though the driving mechanism mounted in the gear casing 132 andassociated therewith may set up no vibrations, unbalanced conditions inthe tub will cause the parts below the neutral axis 265 to vibrate. Inother words, the gear casing and the parts mounted therein andassociated therewith function as a stabilizer to dampen the vibrationsthat may be caused by unbalanced conditions in the tub. The position ofthe neutral axis 265 is dependent upon the relative weights carried byand associated with the shaft 100. As may be seen by referring to Figure9, the rods will be flexed into a dot-dash position 12% when theunbalanced load swings the gear case towards the right, as viewed inFigure 9. When the gear case is oscillated in the opposite direction bythe unbalanced load, the supports 120 will flex in the oppositedirection.

When the water has been drained from the tub 62, rotation of the tub isarrested. This is accomplished by means of a brake mechanism, best seenin Figure 3, that includes a brake member 260 rotatably mounted upon theshaft and spring urged by a spring 262 against a brake member 264secured to the pulley 244. Normally, the brake member 260 rotates withthe pulley 244. Rotation of the brake member 260 is interrupted by alever 266 pivoted upon the end of the shaft 174 and provided with a pawl268 engaging a suitable opening in an irregular shaped flange 270forming the outer margin of the brake member 269. The pawl 268 isprojected into one of the openings in the irregular flange 270 by meansof an electromagnet 272, having its armature 274 connected by means of aspring 276 to the end of the lever 266. Whenever the electromagnet 272is energized, the pawl 26. is projected into one of the apertures 236 inthe flange 27d, thereby causing a braking action between the brakemember 260 and the pulley 244, so as to rapidly stop the rotation of thetub 62. This braking action takes place only when the electromagnet 264and the electromagnet 272 are energized.

In view of the fact that the succeeding operation of the washing machineis either to wash a new batch of clothes or to wash the batch already inthe machine a second time, it follows that the next operation is tooscillate the shaft 108 and the tub 62. This takes place when all of theelectromagnets are re-energized, at which time the clutch member engagesthe clutch member 192, causing the rocker arm 182 to oscillate the shaft100 and the tub 62. When this oscillation first takes place in acounterclockwise direction of rotation of the shaft 100, as viewed inFigure 3, the pawl 268 will continue to hold member 266 in position,thereby applying the brake on at least a portion of the oscillation in acounterblockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3. When the rocker armreverses its direction so as to actuate the shaft 100 and the tub 62supported thereon in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, thebevelled portion 282 of the pawl 268 will be actuated by the portion ofthe flange 270 bounding one of the apertures 286), so as to knock thepawl out of the recess. Due to the fact that the flange 70 does not forma true circle, a portion of the flange 270, namely, the straight portion284, there being three of them as viewed in Figure 3, will function as acam. to force the detent or pawl 268 out of the path of the aperture 280when the oscillation is reversed to the opposite direction.

The control mechanism and the cycles of operation have been illustratedschematically in Figures 8 and 11. Due to the fact that the auxiliarywater heater tank 4%) is always full, in that it is automaticallymaintained at a filled condition by a control mechanism, it can readilybe seen that if the washing machine has not been in use for a longperiod of time, the water in the tank 40 will have the same temperatureas the room temperature, or substantially so. The water flow iscontrolled by selecting a proper size aperture in a metering rubber discmounted in the electromagnetic water valve. It is preferable to connectthe water heater tank 40 to the usual household hot water supply. Thehousehold water supply is usually of inadequate capacity for thecontinuous operation of an automatic washer. Furthermore, in the usualhousehold hot water heater the temperature of the water goes down aswater is Withdrawn for succeeding washing operations. Much betterresults are obtained if the temperature is maintained constant duringthe wash cycle for each batch of clothes.

The first thing the operator does in initiating the washing operation isto energize the heater coil &2, push the temperature control 392 andturn to the desired temperature. This causes the heater coil 42 to beenergized. If the washing machine has not been used for some time, thewater in the tank 44 probably has the same temperature as the roomtemperature. it takes a few minutes for this water to heat from roomtemperature to the desired temperature. While the water is heating, theclothes may be sorted into the various batches, as is well known tothose skilled in the art. For example, white clothes in one pile,fastcolor colored clothes in a second pile, woolens in a third pile, etcetera. Soap or other detergents may be put into the tub and the firstbatch of clothes placed therein. After the water has been heated asindicated on the temperature control dial, the timer control switch 3453is actuated from Git position to Start position and switch knob 316 ispushed to begin the wash cycle.

The thermocouple 46 shown in Figure 2 energizes the relay and thetemperature control thermostat so as to maintain the water in the tank40 at the desired washing temperature. As may best be seen by referringto the schematic wiring diagram shown in Figure 8, the push buttonswitch 3th) is connected in parallel with the cam actuated switch 33 forenergizing the fill valve solenoid 34 0. This permits the operator toadd water to the tub 62 in addition to the water added by the fill valvesolenoid 340. For some purposes it may be desirable to use a largerquantity of water than metered out by the solenoid 340. The cam 320 hasbeen shown schematically in Figure 11. An armature 342 is provided witha cam follower portion 34-4 contacting the cam 320. An extension 346carries a pair of contacts 348 and 350. As the cam follower 344 israised, the contact 359 closes the switch 332. When the cam follower 344drops into a depression on the cam 320, the contact 348 closes theswitch 339. By this arrangement, two switches are actuated by the samecam and the same cam follower. The cams 322 and 323 and the switchesactuated thereby are single acting cams and switches.

After the tub 62 has been filled with water and the cam 32% opens theswitch 338, the switch 336 is also opened by the cam 322, in that thisswitch is normally closed to permit the clutch member 190 to bedisengaged from the pin 192. By de-energizing the solenoid 204, theclutch members are engaged, which causes the tub to oscillate. As soonas the wash cycle has been completed, the switch 336 i again energized,so as to disconnect the clutch members. The switch 332 is then closed,so as to energize the solenoid 256, which places a tension on the belt242, so as to spin the tub 62. As the tub spins, the water is drainedfrom the tub through the action of centrifugal forces upon the water.

When the spinning operation has been completed, the switch 332 is openedby the earn 320. This is followed by the closing of the switch 334 bythe cam 323, which energizes the electromagnet 272, to thereby apply thebrake to the shaft 100, so as to arrest the movement of the tub.

As soon as the water in the tub has been added to the desired. level,the cycles of operation are repeated, in that by this time all of theelectromagnets excepting electromagnet 2i34 have been de-energized andthe motor 140 started, so as to repeat the operations. However, the

period of time of each operation may not be the same. When theoperations have all been completed, the washing machine is automaticallydisconnected from the power line.

Although the washing machine lends itself to various dimensions andlengths of cycles, the following is an example of a washing machine fordomestic use. The heater tank for the hot water may have capacity offifteen gallons; but ordinarily, only eleven gallons are used in thewashing tub at a time. This excess of four gallons permits the emptyingof water from the heater tank into the tub without greatly cooling thewater added to the tub by the new charge of water added to the heatertank. A five kw. heater element may be used in the hot water heatertank, which heats the water in the heater tank from 70 to 140 in acomparatively short period of time. The oscillation of the tub, whichmay be referred to as the washing periods, may consist of eight minuteperiods. The total time required for completing a wash from the timethat the water in the heater tank has been raised to the propertemperature may be on the order of twenty-six minutes. The tub, duringthe spinning operation may be rotated at a speed of 600 to 860 R. P. M.,depending upon the gear ratio and the source of power. The entire cyclefor completing a wash may be increased or decreased by changing thespeed of the motor 312, or by changing the gear ratio between the motor312 and the cam shaft. The relative time elements of the variousoperations may be changed by changing the cams 326 and 322.

As may best be seen by referring to the diagrammatic view shown inFigure 10, the rocker arm 182 completes the stroke in one direction whenthe eccentrically mounted annular flange 176 travels through the angle Band the rocker arm 182 travels through the stroke in the oppositedirection when the eccentrically mounted annular flange 176 travelsthrough the angle 35% minus B. However, from Figure 10 it can be seenthat the angle B is much smaller than the angle 360 minus B. As a resultthereof, the rocker arm travels faster in one direction than in theopposite. Thus, by arranging the direction of inclination of the gradualslopes of the ramp, such that the wash travels up the ramp during thefast movement of the rocker arm 182, it is possible to cause the tub tooscillate in the opposite direction while the clothes are being agitatedby the steep portion '74 of the ramp during the slow movement of therocker arm. The driving mechanism for the rocker arm, together with thearrangement of the ramps, results in a very gradual raising of theclothes in the wash when the tub is oscillated in one direction and aviolent agitation when the tub is oscillated in the opposite direction,thereby effectively washing the clothes. The washing operation may bereferred to as a peripheral washing operation, in that the shape of theramp is such that there is a tendency for the clothes to beurged'upwards towards the periphery of the tub, so that the ribs scrubthe clothes.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a tub mounted for oscillatory movement andspinning movement, said tub having an elongated transversely disposedramp projecting upwardly from the bottom thereof and integral therewith,said ramp having a pair of gradually inclined portions directed in thesame general direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the tub,and a pair of vertically disposed portions opposite the inclinedportions so that as 9 the tub is oscillated in one direction the wash inthe tub is gradually raised and when the tub is oscillated in theopposite direction the wash is violently agitated.

2. A tub according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the central portionof the ramp constitutes a conic section.

3. A tub according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the tub is providedwith inwardly directed rib portions arranged in spaced relation from theextremities of the ramp.

4. A tub according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the tub has acentrally disposed integral ramp and said tub diverges from the bottomto the top so that as the tub is spun the Water is spilled over the topof the tub by centrifugal force.

5. A tub according to claim 1, wherein the maximum length of the ramp isless than the minimum external diameter of the tub.

6. In a washing machine a tub mounted for oscillatory movement, said tubhaving an elongate transversely disposed ramp projecting upwardly fromthe bottom thereof and integral therewith, a frustum-conical memberprojecting upwardly into the center portion of the ramp, means forsupporting the tub, said means including a shaft projecting upwardlyinto the frustum-conical member, said shaft having a shoulder thereonnear the lower end thereof, a pair of bearings for rotatably supportingthe shaft, one of said bearings engaging the shaft near the lower endthereof and abutting said shoulder, a splined coupling splined to thetop of the shaft and abutting the other bearing, the splined couplingsupporting the tub, an open ended upwardly directed frustum-conicalshaped portion located below the tub, and a conical-shaped flexiblesealing member resiliently attached to said other bearing, the upperportion of said open ended frustumconical portion being connected to theflexible sealing member so that the flexible sealing member provides aWater-tight seal between the bearing engaging the splined coupling andthe open ended frustum-conical member.

7. In a washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the means forsupporting the tub includes a plurality of flexible rods divergingoutwardly from a point adjacent the apex of the frustum conical member,and a gear casing supporting an electric motor, a driving mechanism fordriving the shaft, said gear casing forming a support for the lower endof the shaft and being suspended upon said flexible rods so that therods are flexed in response to vibrations of the tub.

8. In a washing machine, a tub mounted for oscillatory movement, saidtub having integral with the bottom thereof an upwardly directed rampforming a cavity on the under side of the tub, means for supporting thetub, said means including a shaft projecting upwardly into the cavity inthe bottom of the tub, a member for securing the tub to the shaft, aplurality of bearings for supporting the shaft, one of the bearingsbeing mounted near the top of the shaft and within the cavity of thetub, a frustum conical member surrounding the shaft and terminating inspaced relation from the bearing mounted near the top of the shaft,flexible means providing a water-tight seal extending from the upperbearing to the top of the frustum conical member providing a water-tightseal, said supporting means including a plurality of outwardly flaringrods, driving means for oscillating and spinning the shaft, a housingfor the driving means, said housing supporting the lower bearing for theshaft, said housing being supported upon said flexible rods, saiddriving means oscillating and spinning the shaft and therewithoscillating and spinning the tub, said driving means including a rockerarm and a pinion, a clutch for connecting the pinion and the shaft sothat as the driving means oscillates the rocker arm the pinionoscillates the shaft, and electromagnet for releasing the clutch, a beltdriven by said drivingmeans for spinning the shaft, and idler, and anelectromagnet for actuating the idler into engagement with the belt toit) tighten the same to cause the belt to rotate the shaft in onedirection to thereby spin the tub.

9. A driving mechanism for use in a washing machine having a tub mountedfor oscillatory and spinning movements, said driving mechanism includinga motor, a shaft mounted for rotary and oscillatory movements foractuating the tub, means driven by an electric motor for oscillating theshaft, said means including a rocker arm having a longitudinallyextending slot, a circular sleeve mounted in the slot, a main drive geardriven by the electric motor, a rotatable eccentric fixedly attached tothe main drive gear and mounted in the circular sleeve in the slot foroscillating the rocker arm, the rocker arm terminating in arcuatelydisposed gear teeth, a pinion meshing with the gear teeth so as to beoscillated by the rocker arm, clutch means for connecting the pinion tothe shaft, and an electromagnet for controlling the clutch means; meansfor spinning the shaft, said last mentioned means including a V-beltpulley connected to the armature shaft of the motor, a second V-beltpulley keyed to the first mentioned shaft, an idler, and anelectromagnet for actuating the idler into engagement with the belt totighten the same; and control means for energizing the first mentionedelectromagnet to disengage the clutch means and for energizing thesecond electromagnet to cause the idler to tighten the belt to therebydrive the first mentioned shaft directly from the motor to spin the tub.

10. A driving mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the V-belt pulleykeyed to the first mentioned shaft is provided with a brake surface, abrake member mounted upon the first mentioned shaft and resilientlybiased against the brake surface of said V-belt pulley, said brakemember being provided with a flange having apertures and normallyrotating with the shaft, a pivotally mounted lever having a pawl adaptedto be projected into one of the apertures in the flange of the brakemember, and electromagnetic means for actuating the lever to project thepawl into an aperture thereby to arrest rotation of the brake member soas to apply a brake to the shaft.

11. A driving mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the V-belt pulleykeyed to the first mentioned shaft is provided with a brake surface, abrake member mounted upon the first mentioned shaft and resilientlybiased against the brake surface of the V-belt pulley, said brake memberbeing provided with a flange encirciing the shaft, said flange havingirregular shaped sides and being provided with apertures, the aperturesbeing arranged on the portions of the flange closest to the center ofrotation, a pivotally mounted lever having a pawl adapted to beprojected into one of the apertures of the flange of the brake member,and electromagnetic means for actuating the lever to project the pawlinto an aperture and arrest rotation of the brake member to therebyapply a brake to the shaft, the electromagnetic means upon beingdeenergized permitting the pawl to be projected out of the aperture, thepawl being actuated away from the aperture by the irregularities of theflange.

12. Supporting and driving means for supporting a tub mounted for rotaryand oscillatory movements, said supporting and driving means including avertically disposed shaft, a coupling for attaching the tub to the upperend of the shaft, a gear casing attached to the lower end of the shaft,the shaft supporting the tub in fixed spaced relation from the gearcasing, a fixed support located in close proximity to the bottom of thetub and surrounding the shaft, and a plurality of flexible supports forsupporting the gear casing the shaft and the tub, the upper ends of theflexible supports being secured to the fixed support, said flexiblesupports diverging outwardly and downwardly from the fixed support tothe gear casing so that as the tub is vibrated in response to unbalancedconditions the shaft is caused to vibrate about a neutral plane, saidneutral plane being located in the vicinity of the fixed support, thegear casing functioning as a ballast dampening the vibrations set up bythe tub.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the tub is provided with afrustum conical centrally disposed outwardly directed recess in thebottom thereof, the upper end of the shaft projecting upwardly into theconical recess, the coupling for attaching the tub to the upper end ofthe shaft having a contour simulating the contour of the recess so thatthe coupling supports the bottom of the tub upon the upper end of theshaft.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the flexible supportsconsist of a plurality of flexible rods diverging downwardly andoutwardly from the fixed support to the extremities of the gear casing.

15. Supporting and driving means for supporting a tub mounted for rotaryand oscillatory movements, said supporting and driving means including avertically disposed shaft, a tub mounted upon the upper end of theshaft, a gear casing attached to the lower end of the shaft, the shaftsupporting the tub in fixed spaced relation from the gear casing,flexible supporting means for supporting the gear casing, the shaft andthe tub, said flexible supporting means supporting the gear casing froma position near the neutral axis located below the tub and above the topof the gear casing, unbalanced load conditions in the tub causing thetub, the shaft and the gear casing to vibrate about a neutral axis, saidneutral axis moving toward the tub as the unbalanced load conditionincreases and away from the tub as the unbalanced load conditiondecreases.

16. A supporting mechanism for supporting a tub upon the upper end of ashaft, the lower end of the shaft being mounted in a gear casing, theshaft driving the tub so that as an unbalanced condition develops in thetub the neutral axis is located between the tub and the gear casing,said supporting mechanism including a fixed support in the approximatevicinity of the neutral axis, and flexible means extending from thefixed support downwardly to the gear casing to support the gear casing.

17. A supporting mechanism for use in supporting a tub mounted forrotation by a shaft projecting up near the center of the tub andextending downwardly into a gear casing, including driving mechanism fordriving the shaft and the tub, the neutral axis of the tub and the gearcasing being located between the tub and the gear casing, saidsupporting mechanism including an annular member surrounding the shaftin the vicinity of the neutral axis, a fixed frustum conical support forsupporting the annular member, and a plurality of downwardly andoutwardly diverging flexible members extending from the annular memberand connected thereto and to the gear casing for providing a support forthe gear casing and the tub.

18. A supporting mechanism according to claim 17, wherein resilientmembers are positioned between the gear casing and the Wall of the fixedfrustum conical support for dampening vibrations.

19. A supporting mechanism according to claim 17, wherein a conicalresilient housing member interconnects the annular member to the shaftso as to provide a watertight seal.

20. A supporting mechanism according to claim 17 wherein a rubbersnubber is mounted within the annular member surrounding the shaft inthe vicinity of the neutral axis for limiting the movement of the shaft.

21. A supporting mechanism according to claim 17,

wherein the annular member consists of a pair of cylindrical portionsjoined by a frustum-conical portion, the smaller cylindrical portionhousing the snubber used in limiting the movement of the shaft, thefrustum-conical portion having fixedly attached thereto the divergingflexible members.

22. A supporting mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the gearcasing is provided with a steel stamping cover having a peripheralflange secured to the lower ends of the flexible member.

23. A clothes washing machine unit including the combination of acasing, a water reservoir in the casing, a heater element in the waterreservoir, means for supplying water to the reservoir, a tub mountedindependently of the reservoir the side wall of which diverges outwardlyfrom the bottom of the tub, means for oscillating the tub for washingclothes, means for spinning the tub for emptying the water from the tub,and thermostatic control means for controlling the heating elements inthe reservoir so as to heat the water in the reservoir to the desiredwashing temperature while the tub is oscillated and spun, and means forautomatically supplying water to the tub from the reservoir after thefirst washing operation so as to supply rinse Water to the-tub that isof the same temperature as the washing Water to thereby maintain thefibers of the clothes being washed at a constant expanded conditionduring the washing and rinsing cycles.

24. A clothes washing machine unit including the combination of asupporting structure, a water reservoir mounted upon the supportingstructure, a heater element in the Water reservoir, means for supplyingwater to the reservoir, a tub mounted upon the supporting structure andindependently of the reservoir, the side wall of said tub divergingoutwardly from the bottom of the tub, means for oscillating the tub forwashing the clothes, means for spinning the tub for emptying the waterfrom the tub, and thermostatic control means for controlling the heaterelements in the reservoir so as to heat the Water in the reservoir tothe desired washing temperature while the tub is oscillated and spun,and means for automatically supplying water to the tub from thereservoir after the first washing operation so as to supply rinse Waterto the tub that is of the same temperature as the washing water tothereby maintain the fibers of the clothes being washed at a constantexpanded condition during the washing and the rinsing cycles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWooclson July 17,

